Srimad BhagavadGita

Sañjaya continued to narrate to Dhṛtarāṣṭra about what happened next, "O Dhṛtarāṣṭra! Hṛṣīkeśa spoke the following words in a smiling way to the grieving Arjuna in the midst of both the armies."

tam uvāca hṛṣikeśaḥ By saying so, Sañjaya meant to say that the master of everyone's senses Hṛṣikeśa (Kṛṣṇa) started to speak to Arjuna with the intention of controlling his senses and providing relief to them.

prahasann iva (In a smiling manner in good humour) Various reasons can be quoted for Kṛṣṇa's good humoured smile. When the words ‘prahasann iva’ are combined with different words from the śloka, more reasons can be deduced for Kṛṣṇa's good humoured smile. These are as follows,

1)Arjuna chose to back off from war at the crucial moment for no good reason. This deserved some good

humour and hence Kṛṣṇa smiled that way.

  2)Arjuna did not have actual knowledge about the deha (body) and the ātma (soul), so he was in grief.

However, he spoke as though he was aware of the difference between the body and the soul. Observing that

Arjuna displayed such qualities which were inappropriate for the situation, Kṛṣṇa spoke that way in order to

convey the matter to Arjuna on a light note.

  3)Kṛṣṇa's paternal aunt Kunti is called Pṛtha. Her son Arjuna is Pārtha. Due to their intimacy as cousins

Kṛṣṇa spoke that way. 

  4)Instructing the essence of the vedas with a grave face would make it appear dry, uninteresting and difficult

to comprehend. To make the instruction lively, understandable and desirable to Arjuna, Kṛṣṇa spoke that way.

prahasann iva bhārata (O Dhṛtarāṣṭra, descendent of Bharata! Hṛṣīkeśa spoke the following words in a smiling way) Kṛṣṇa wanted Sañjaya to notice HIS crooked smile and specifically mention this detail to Dhṛtarāṣṭra and caution him that, 'O Dhṛtarāṣṭra! This is not an ordinary smile but an indication of the complete destruction of your offsprings.' 

hṛṣikeśaḥ prahasann iva (Hṛṣīkeśa- The controller of senses, spoke the following words in a smiling way) This Arjuna was known for his exceptional skills in archery. Many illustrations could be quoted about his valorous encounters on the battlefield. Earlier, he even put up a great fight against the Kauravas, on behalf of King Virāta. It was by Kṛṣṇa's will that Arjuna's mind was altered a while ago, to experience grief and cowardice, making him step back from war. Now Kṛṣṇa was making Arjuna gather courage and gear up for war. Kṛṣṇa looked at Arjuna who was like a mere tool in HIS hands, smiled to himself and started to speak. Kṛṣṇa being Hṛṣīkeśaḥ, altered the valorous Arjuna's mind earlier to a depressed state. With HIS will alone, HE could have altered Arjuna's sentiments again by controlling his mind. However, in order to revive the lost knowledge of the Gītā and to impart it for the upliftment of the whole world, Kṛṣṇa chose to speak to Arjuna.

senayor ubhayor madhye (*sīdamānam) prahasann iva (Hṛṣīkeśa spoke the following words in a smiling way to the grieving Arjuna in the midst of both the armies) At a time when the two armies were in their respective positions, ready to begin the war, Arjuna who stood in the centre space between them in order to observe both the armies, was struck by grief for no valid reason and gave up the will to fight. Smiling at Arjuna who was in such a state, Kṛṣṇa started to speak.

idaṃ vacaḥ prahasann iva uvāca (Hṛṣīkeśa spoke the following words in a smiling way to Arjuna)

Accurate knowledge about the jīvātma (soul), Paramātma (supreme soul) and the means to realise the ultimate goal namely karma- jñāna- bhakti yogas is going to be imparted by Paramapuruṣa Kṛṣṇa starting from natvevāhaṃ....(B.G 2.12) up to sarva dharmān...(B.G 18.66) without any indifference or anger, in a smiling manner using hundreds of sentences and thousands of expressions conveying precious messages.

Note: * The word ‘sīdamānam’ is added to the text of the śloka here, in order to portray the situation more clearly. ‘Sīdamānam’ in Sanskṛt means to be drenched in sweat on account of great fear.